Well this is me, with freshly cut bangs and I dyed my once black hair RED! You can’t tell to much about the color here but trust me it’s red or at least it use to be. Which is why I pose the question, how does one sustain the vibrant salon fresh red hue when you are not naturally a red head?

I was actually trying to refrain from showering my tresses for fear of the veritable blood bath that would appear on my towel after every shower. Shoot, the color would even leave slight smear stains on my pillows! Problem is I think the rich mahogany color does wonders for my pale skin. Brings out what little color I have in my cheeks! But lordy, the maintenance is proving impossible. It’s only week 2 and I already feel that the hair color has morphed into a reddish brown at the roots.

Does any of this stuff work?

Anyone try the Redken Color Extend Hair Care line? Does it help?

Other tips people have told me are:

- Stay out of the SUN! Apparently the sun warps the color of any dye job and strips the color faster. Well I do this anyway because of my fair skin, but one of my favorite parts of dying my hair a different shade is seeing it glow in sunlight, so I find this news dis-heartening. Who wants to hide in the dark with freshly dyed hair?

- Upgrade your water! Additives (such as chlorine) that make tap water safe can also strip dye. Try new shower heads designed to remove color-dulling agents. Try iWater Shower Purification System ($50) or Jonathan Beauty Water Shower Purification System ($95, Sephora).

- Shampoo Less and Condition More! Apparently shampooing hair strips the color faster and leaves your cuticles open, thus making the strands rougher and less shiny. The conditioner locks in color by sealing the cuticles and making your locks shinier. Shiny hair reflects color better. The only probably I have with this advice is I have very fine hair and if I skip shampooing my hair gets greasy really fast. But I shall try my best to modify my showering regime to test out this theory.

Well wish me luck, and please if you have heard of a product or a method that helps maintain red hair color by all means SHARE!

Oh Madonna, diva of my youth how you continue to shine amazes me!

50 and Fabulous, I have no doubt that the lady works her tooshie off to stay so vibrant at the halfway mark in life but makeup surely helps too! Ha! Luckily, the makeup maven behind Madonna’s new album cover, Shuemura Artistic Director, Gina Brooke, gave us the low down on how to get Madonna’s look!

Finish reading at BeautySnob.com!

Combat Dark Circles! Dark circles can be caused by lack of sleep or fatigue, heredity, aging, smoking, hormones or sun exposure. Learn how to combat dark circles at Savvy Skin!

Meanwhile in the lovely land of Smarter Beauty…

Red Alert Ladies! Read about all the carcinogens in our everyday beauty products that major cosmetic empires like L’oreal, Proctor&Gamble, Avon and Estee Lauder are aware of but continue to use!

Read full post: Cancer Causing Beauty Products

On a lighter note, check out Hairmixer.com, its super fun to see your face on a wealth of celebrity hairstyles. Turns out my friend Nick wouldn’t look so good with Mathew McConnaughy!

Oh-My-Gosh ladies you need to check out this site: HairMixer.com!

The site has hundreds of celebrity photos where you can magically insert your own image into the face portal section. Supposedly you can use the feature to see what hairstyles look good with your coloring and face, but come on! More importantly it’s bleepin’ hilarious!

Above is ME “Michelle” with Alyssa Milano’s chest and body, oh and hairstyle! Ha!

Here I am as “Michelle Jolie” ….ahhh! It’s so nice to dream!

By the way guys can use it too! This is my friend Nick, or should I say, “Nick McConaughy!”

Here is my buddy Paul Farrell gracing the covers of LIME magazine!

Go ahead and give it a whirl ladies, feel free to send me your funniest creations and I will add them to this post!!

(send to: Michelle)

I just don’t get it, what is so fabulous about Claire Danes? She seduced Billy Crudup from Mary Lousie Parker while she was pregnant and now she is the new face for GUCCI jewelry!! What am I missing? What pray tell is so alluring about this woman? I liked her in “My So-Called Life” but that’s about it, since then she kind of rubs me the wrong way. I happen to think that Mary Louise Parker is much more alluring and attractive..

Well heres what the folks at Gucci say:

“Claire Danes is a modern icon. For me she is one of the most interesting young actresses on the international scene,” Gucci creative director Frida Giannini told fashionweekdaily.com. “She is very natural, fresh, and has a carefree attitude which can also be seen in the roles she has chosen. Claire’s sensual, confident beauty and her passionate, independent and strong character embodies today’s Gucci woman.”

Hmmm, I am still not convinced, but whatever. If the necklace she is sporting above is Gucci, well I hate to break it to you Miss Frida Giannini but she does NOT make me want to buy it. Sorry for ya!

(Source: CelebrityBrands.net)

Right in time for summer, you can add free beauty samples of Neutrogena Natural Radiance Bronzer to your spring/summer makeup collection.

The Neutrogena Natural Radiance Bronzer is unique healthy skin blend collection that features a palette of multiple sheer shades that blend together to flatter almost any skin-tone with a natural sun-kissed hue. The Neutrogena formula also includes multi-vitamins and a botanical conditioner to soften and refine your skin that is non-comedogenic (aka will not clog your pores), fragrance-free and hypo-allergenic.

Click here to get your FREE Sample: Neutrogena Natural Radiance Bronzer

(Source: MyBeautyMatch.com)

Well I am literally the color of snow, so let’s just say I am not a super HUGE fan of the beach. However I do super love beach hair, but I read and know for a fact that it is not healthy for your hair to be roughly combed when it’s wet! You should do so gently and with a wide toothed comb, thus I present to you the Babyliss Shower Combs!

BaByliss’s new shower comb is created with specially rounded teeth to make it really gentle on those snarls and helpd reduce breakages as well… finish reading Kiss and Makeup Blog! 

In Spring & Summer I find the best hairstyles tend to be the ones that get your hair off your neck and face. Low fuss, no muss trends are my favorite.

Here are my top picks for quick and fashionable fixes this Spring 2008:

1. HEADBANDS

Headbands are back in a BIG way. Things to keep in mind, the smaller your head and features are the bigger and bolder you can go with styles, width and color of headband. If you have a big dome and big face, best to keep the headband smaller and solid tones. This will help keep your features in appropriate proportion.

2. PONYTAILS (Low & Half Pony ONLY)

Half Pony - The style seems to be teased and sort of pompadoured in the front. Or you could just smooth locks into a half pony. I hate when people make it sound like rocket science, if you don’t know how to pull your hair into a half pony you should run, because I think I hear your short bus leaving the station.

Low Pony - Just pull your hair back into a low, casual ponytail. Top off the look with a pair of your favorite aviators. Classic Spring/Summer look!

3. BRAIDS (they’re baaaacck!)

Formal Wear Braiding…

Simpson Sisters Braiding …

Cool Springtime Braids …

I think this is more of an artwork. I know girls who can whip their hair into an awesome french braid in mere moments. I unfortunately am all thumbs when it comes to braiding, I do however admire women who can pull off the look as I feel it is both laid back and hyper cool, very bohemian chic!

4. THE LOW BUN

Low buns are simple, messy and fast! Pretend like your making a low ponytail but instead of pulling the hair all the way threw the elastic band, loop half of your hair and leave the lengthier bits popping out in disarray. Takes literally two seconds and can be dressed up or down depending on where you are headed.

Michelle Williams showcases a beautiful low bun!

Hope this inspires your Spring hairstyles!

Maybe it’s the nostalgia of having a Clinton running for the White House, but I think a revival of the 90s revival of the 1960s is on the cusp of happening. At least if Anna Sui has anything to say about it–check out the beauty at her Fashion Week Fall 08 show.

At Thakoon, hair was big and messy (kind of like Tippy Hedron in The Birds), while plums and pinks ruled the face.

Diane Von Furstenberg opted for high glamour and smoky eyes.

‘

Electric eyes and natural hair defined the runway look at Proenza Schouler:

Imagine if your new ‘do made the news?  Recently, Kate Moss caused quite a stir with those bangs of hers, and now, in the latest celebrity haircut news, Katie Holmes has gotten bangs and a sleek bob.  Once again…there is pandemonium.  It even has it’s own name: the bobcat!

Here’s what people are saying:

Bellasugar: “Every hair is in perfect place, so I can’t tell if this might be an excellent wig or if she just has her hair meticulously styled. Either way, it’s a striking change.”

Fashionista: “…her new and very severe haircut is so very goth, it adds a good 10 years to the well-married movie star.”

Jezebel: “Katie Holmes is rocking a new ‘do. Is it just me or is this a modified Saleisha [from America’s Next Top Model]? Or is it more of a mini-Wintour?

GlamBlush: “…I think it’s a wig! It’s a bit too fluffy at the top, and there’s not a bit of scalp showing.”

Dotspotter: “Katie Holmes got a stunning new haircut.  And by stunning, I mean I’m stunned she did her hair like this.  She looks like a mannequin, not a real girl.”

I say it’s super flattering and ultra-sophisticate.

Ever since a horrible pomade mishap in the late 90s (involving me, my greasy head, a dance club, and three subsequent hair washings), I’ve steered clear of any products with a thick or paste-like appearance. However, after cutting my hair short, my old trusted products just weren’t doing it for me. So, since Crew seemed to be working for my husband, who is also of the thick and coarse hair persuasion, I thought I’d try it, too.

My technique: I take a small dab in my hand, rub my palms together, then pat my head in the messiest areas. I just let it sink it before I attempt to style with my fingers or a comb. It gets better as the day goes on, and the result is less messy hair. Or at least more stylish messy hair.

And it washes right out.